I'm so excited!

In my new neigbourhood a few vegetable gardens are for hire and I going to share one with another woman. Whom I still have to meet.

I'm 1st on the waitinglist, so in the future, I might get a whole garden (3mx3m) for myself.

However, I have never grew any vegetable.

So, now that I've got the vegetable garden at my disposale, what am I going to do with it?

And I also got a little garden in front of my house.

Again, I've never grew one plant in my life.

What kind of flowers or stuf do I need to do?

I really have no idea!

Garden: Tomatos, Onions, Lettuce, Radishes, maybe a couple stalks of corn. Doesnt look like you have room for beans, watermelon, squash or things that vine out.

With the flower bed it depends on how much light you get. I wouldnt plant from seeds, Id go to the local nursery and ask for help.

Lavendar, Thyme, Basil, Tomatoes Heirloom, Red Cabbage - can it and pickle it when its ready.

You could grow a rhubarb patch. Thats low maintenance. Or just all lavendar.

[Edited 3/14/13 9:43am]

PurpleJedi said:

Actually, that is not a bad idea.

I can plant one and sell some weed to a nearby coffeeshop.

But, I want to grow my own vegetables too!

Should I seed everything at once or is there a fixed schedule?

Cuddles said:

Certain vegetables like to be grown next to each other. And some kinds ward off insects. You should read about that. I know tomatoes and basil like to be together.

marigolds are supposed to ward off certain pests

Cuddles said:

Certain vegetables like to be grown next to each other. And some kinds ward off insects. You should read about that. I know tomatoes and basil like to be together.

We put in 8 tomato plants in last few weeks of spring atthe back of my house where there is full sun all day long, and it's now second week of autumn and those plants are STILL producing fruit it's weird though, because at first the fruit was firm and sweet, but as the plants have got old and the extreme heat has killed off parts of all the plants, and the tomatoes are blotchy and soft but still perfectly edible.

We fed them with liquid fertiliser (followed instructions on the box) and tied them up with string and stakes. The plants grew 8-9' tall, tied up just under the eaves of the house.

Every morning this summer I could go out there and collect a basin of ripe tomatoes.

I didn't need pest control since I have 2 dogs out there patrolling against birds

These were the best ones for my sandy soil:

mini roma

I never grew anything before this either

ZombieKitten said:

Cuddles said:

Certain vegetables like to be grown next to each other. And some kinds ward off insects. You should read about that. I know tomatoes and basil like to be together.

We put in 8 tomato plants in last few weeks of spring atthe back of my house where there is full sun all day long, and it's now second week of autumn and those plants are STILL producing fruit it's weird though, because at first the fruit was firm and sweet, but as the plants have got old and the extreme heat has killed off parts of all the plants, and the tomatoes are blotchy and soft but still perfectly edible.

We fed them with liquid fertiliser (followed instructions on the box) and tied them up with string and stakes. The plants grew 8-9' tall, tied up just under the eaves of the house.

Every morning this summer I could go out there and collect a basin of ripe tomatoes.

I didn't need pest control since I have 2 dogs out there patrolling against birds

These were the best ones for my sandy soil:

mini roma

I never grew anything before this either

My tomato plant did NOT look like that It only produce one tiny, tart tomato!

OK my tomato diary

My dad put up this hessian - we were worried a day of +40°C would kill them

[img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/charlottegelin/domestic/Photo21-12-1270633PM.jpg[/img:$uid]

Coming along nicely

[img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/charlottegelin/domestic/Photo19-12-1245604PM.jpg[/img:$uid]

First fruit - just before I ate it

[img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/charlottegelin/domestic/Photo21-12-1270251PM.jpg[/img:$uid]

My kid (who is taller than me) next to the plants which were nearly taller than him at beginning of summer

[img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/charlottegelin/domestic/Photo19-12-1245542PM.jpg[/img:$uid]

Christmas dinner - LOTS of tomato!

[img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/charlottegelin/domestic/Photo22-12-1283125PM.jpg[/img:$uid]

Now, I'm going to rip the plants out this weekend - it's all over, despite the fruit still coming!

[img:$uid]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/charlottegelin/domestic/Photo15-03-1392129AM.jpg[/img:$uid]

Thank you guys, I really do need to educate myself on it.

Those tomatoes look tasty, ZK.

I love zucchini, so I think I'll grow a few of them.

And cucumber.

And I would love to eat my own pumpkin.

In the space you have the only way to grow cucumbers is to spike them and there is no way your gonna be able to do pumpkins.

dJJ said:

Thank you guys, I really do need to educate myself on it.

Those tomatoes look tasty, ZK.

I love zucchini, so I think I'll grow a few of them.

And cucumber.

And I would love to eat my own pumpkin.

Zucchini grows easily and abundantly. If you get yourself one or two small starter plants I promise you will literally have a harvest of this veggie just months after. I grow them on my terrace and I also use the flowers; you can stuff them with ricotta like they do in Italy, and makes a really chic summer meal. Fresh zucchini I LOVE to shred and toss with peas, green herbs, olive oil, and handmade pasta

six course dinner: Zucchi... Scallions

Recipe for Fried Stuffed ...s Ambrosia

dJJ said:

I would love to eat my own pumpkin.

Blimey.

Jedi had it.

tomatoes and chilis and radishes and lettuce and cucumber and carrots and basil and cilantro and onions

i luv gardening

i have a small patch in my garden that i grow herbs and I have and will again be growing raddish, carrot, spring onion.... stuff like that

i also have a limon tree that i just adore - it is in a pot but will b going into the ground very soon - my dad grafted it for me - it is 1/2 lemon 1/2 lime. Very citrusy and yum!!!!

i also grow my strawberries in an old wheel barrow - Mr Cool gave me that idea and it stops all the little creatures from eating them and also u can move the wheel barrow around the garden to achieve the best results. i can b lazy and ummm have killed a few strawberry plants

just remember to water all your plants every day and never use chemicals... i use salt for slugs n snails, i use hot water to kill weeds.....

i find gardening relaxing and therapeutic - i really hope u get your 3x3 patch and happy growing

Mr Cool i have strawberries 4 u

Most vegetable plants take much more space than you think. Most beginning gardners plant too much stuff and they run into each other and stunt growth or kill off each other.

fielder said:

Most vegetable plants take much more space than you think. Most beginning gardners plant too much stuff and they run into each other and stunt growth or kill off each other.

beginners r always over excited and want everything plus seeds r cheap so they over do it

now i only plant a few things in the garden and still have stuff in large potts which adds to the attraction of a garden area

fielder said:

Most vegetable plants take much more space than you think. Most beginning gardners plant too much stuff and they run into each other and stunt growth or kill off each other.

Thanks for that advice.

I will start with just zucchini, cucumber and radishes.

Because every time I read radishes here, I got very enthusiastic!

And I will not plant it too full. Just a few.

PurpleJedi said:

Cuddles said:

Certain vegetables like to be grown next to each other. And some kinds ward off insects. You should read about that. I know tomatoes and basil like to be together.

marigolds are supposed to ward off certain pests

Thanks. So, I just plant one marigold in between my vegetables?

ThisOne said:

i luv gardening

i have a small patch in my garden that i grow herbs and I have and will again be growing raddish, carrot, spring onion.... stuff like that

i also have a limon tree that i just adore - it is in a pot but will b going into the ground very soon - my dad grafted it for me - it is 1/2 lemon 1/2 lime. Very citrusy and yum!!!!

i also grow my strawberries in an old wheel barrow - Mr Cool gave me that idea and it stops all the little creatures from eating them and also u can move the wheel barrow around the garden to achieve the best results. i can b lazy and ummm have killed a few strawberry plants

just remember to water all your plants every day and never use chemicals... i use salt for slugs n snails, i use hot water to kill weeds.....

i find gardening relaxing and therapeutic - i really hope u get your 3x3 patch and happy growing

Mr Cool i have strawberries 4 u

How do you use the salt?

And you hydrate your vegetables daily with hot water?

dJJ said:

ThisOne said:

i luv gardening

i have a small patch in my garden that i grow herbs and I have and will again be growing raddish, carrot, spring onion.... stuff like that

i also have a limon tree that i just adore - it is in a pot but will b going into the ground very soon - my dad grafted it for me - it is 1/2 lemon 1/2 lime. Very citrusy and yum!!!!

i also grow my strawberries in an old wheel barrow - Mr Cool gave me that idea and it stops all the little creatures from eating them and also u can move the wheel barrow around the garden to achieve the best results. i can b lazy and ummm have killed a few strawberry plants

just remember to water all your plants every day and never use chemicals... i use salt for slugs n snails, i use hot water to kill weeds.....

i find gardening relaxing and therapeutic - i really hope u get your 3x3 patch and happy growing

Mr Cool i have strawberries 4 u

How do you use the salt?

And you hydrate your vegetables daily with hot water?

i sprinkle salt around the perimeter of the plants

and just pour boiling hot water on stubborn weeds that i cant pull out

dJJ said:

PurpleJedi said:

marigolds are supposed to ward off certain pests

Thanks. So, I just plant one marigold in between my vegetables?

I'm not 100% sure (not much of a gardener myself) but you can research ancient farming techniques for guidelines. The Aztecs and Maya for example, had a very good understanding of how to grow crops in harmony...for example they would plant beans with corn so that the bean plants would wrap themselves around the growing corn stalks, and I think that they complemented each other as far as soil & nutrients.

It's been awhile since my High School research paper.

PurpleJedi said:

dJJ said:

Thanks. So, I just plant one marigold in between my vegetables?

I'm not 100% sure (not much of a gardener myself) but you can research ancient farming techniques for guidelines. The Aztecs and Maya for example, had a very good understanding of how to grow crops in harmony...for example they would plant beans with corn so that the bean plants would wrap themselves around the growing corn stalks, and I think that they complemented each other as far as soil & nutrients.

It's been awhile since my High School research paper.

That does sound good.

I also saw a documentary about an African farmer who had a great harvest without the use of any pesticides because he knew how to plant the vegetables together.

Just talked to the woman with whom I will share the plot with.

She is a delight, she also has no experience and told me that we can just throw in some seeds, water it when the weather is hot and then see what grows.

She is very easy going about our vegetables and I like that.

I'll do the neurotic part.

So, we agreed on zucchini, cucumber and tomatoes. And that we should not grow too much, on a little spot, because I told her that is a mistake beginners often make.

Next Saturday is the official opening and start of the vegetable gardens.

Throwing in seeds????

Well then throw in pepper seeds... I love the look of the black ornamental pepper plant.

If you plant a tomato - have a stake to support and plant a basil plant next to it. Tomatoes get worms and such and the basil will protect it.

Make sure its a sunny warm spot too.... with a nice loamy soil. Condition the soil if need be... good soil equals great plants.

IF you have dry clay like soil, that is dry... and its a full sun spot... then plant lavender. Lavender, thyme, rosemary ... those guys do better in dryer conditions.

If you plant a corn stalk, then plant a a squash vine and bean stalk with it.... they grow well together.

IF you are gonna do flowers..... hmm- mix in a perennial or two with annuals that flower heavy..... I would do echinacea and chamomile, snap dragons,lobelia erinus, coleus... mabey some lung wort tucked in all that since it needs shade but the foliage is gorgeous. Heck, even mix in an ornammental pepper plant or funky grass like juncus-Yellow Stripe.

The lobelia, snap dragons, pepper and coleus will only live until the frost... but the herbs/flowers perennials (echinacea, chamomile-which are edible and you can use) should come up again next year. You can mix it up and try new annuals... like Torenias ...

*Now obviously you can not plant ALL that... but I color coded what you can plant in that small space. If you do the corn stalk, then fertilize the soil and choose a smaller squah variety... don't think you could manage a pumpkin but you can do a summer squah variety. The bean vine will trail up the corn stalk.

Now the flowers are different... you should be able to plant what I listed in that space... again good soil that is well fertized can support more flowers.

[Edited 3/16/13 13:45pm]

PurpleJedi said:

Cuddles said:

Certain vegetables like to be grown next to each other. And some kinds ward off insects. You should read about that. I know tomatoes and basil like to be together.

marigolds are supposed to ward off certain pests

True. Try growing from seedlings. They are all ready to plant without having to wait for seeds. Peppers and tomatos are easy. All herbs are relatively easy. Lettuce needs cooler temperatures. Cannabis is real easy, but watch out for thieves. As long as your plot gets at least 6 to eight hours of full sunlight, you're good to go. I grow all my veggies, flowers and herbs in pots on my deck. Whatever you do, you will find it very therapeutic. I really get into a zone when I garden. Can't beat it for relaxation and satisfaction.

dJJ said:

Just talked to the woman with whom I will share the plot with.

She is a delight, she also has no experience and told me that we can just throw in some seeds, water it when the weather is hot and then see what grows.

She is very easy going about our vegetables and I like that.

I'll do the neurotic part.

So, we agreed on zucchini, cucumber and tomatoes. And that we should not grow too much, on a little spot, because I told her that is a mistake beginners often make.

Next Saturday is the official opening and start of the vegetable gardens.

!!

3m x 3m?.. i think for a spot that size, u might not have much room to grow anything else, but still a good choice.

although tomatoes can be tempermental, they need a lot of sunshine & are prone to disease. u won't be able to sew them directly into the ground, but nurture them at indoors at home & plant them once they look strong.

cucumbers can be a bit delicate & need to grow indoors, only plant them outside when the weather has dramatically warmed up

the cucs & zucchini need a lot of water, daily trips to water them!.. zucchini can be planted straight into the ground, but protect them with slug pellets until they are established & have a few leaves

if you like garlic, it is planted in autumn & grows without any help & needs little space. get a bulb from the supermarket & break into cloves

& raspberries too are easy to do, just plant one & it will look after itself. it will reproduce every year

good luck!